higgins



s Sh'eet-Sheet 1.f

(No Model.)

J. J. HIGGINS.

PHOTOGRAPHIO CAMERA.

No. 371,458. Patented Oct. 11, 1887.

I, I I a I y (No Model) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. J. HIGGINS.

PHOTOGRAPHIO GAMERA.

No. 371,458. Patented Oct. 11, 1887.

NY PETERS. PhntmLnhogmplwr. waslnn wrw. mo.

(No Model.) 3Sheets-Sheet 3. J. J. HIGGINS.

PHOTOGRAPHIG CAMERA. No. 371,458. Patented Oct. 11, 1887.

wfimmssms N. PETERS. Plvola-umo n mr. Wanhin lm 11c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. HIGGINS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO E. & H. T. ANTHONY &COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,458, dated @ctober11, 1887.

Application filed July 13, 1887. Serial No.- 2l4,l37. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. HIGGINS, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PhotographicCameras, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the i construct-ion ofphotographic cameras, and especially those termed detective or portable,and also to certain new and useful de.

vices connected therewith.

My invention consists in making the body I of the camera in two or moreparts united by hinges or equivalent devices,whereby the camera-box maybe opened and the interior thereof utilized as a receptacle, in whichthe plateholders and other accessories may be conveniently carried;also, by the separation of the body of the camera into distinct and, soto speak, independent parts, the substitution of a lens of one focus fora lens of a different focus is effected by simply changing the front ofthe camera, as hereinafter stated, and I thus avoid the necessity ofpurchasing and transporting two complete cameras.

In the drawings, Figurelillustrates abottom plan view ofthe camera,italso showinga frame 50 having a viewlens detached from the rest of thecamera at the right-hand sideof the figure. Fig. 2 illustrates a sideplan view of the same parts. Fig. 3 illustrates a horizontal section,taken through the rear part of the camera, showing the push-button foroutwardly starting the plate holders. Fig. 4 illustrates a front riew otthe frame holding a shorter focus-lens. Fig. 5 illustrates a front viewof the camera, the lid containing the light-excluder having been opened.Fig. 6 illustrates a view, looking into the camera-box when opened,showing the arrangement of the plateholders therein. Fig. 7 illustratesa side sectional View of the rear part of the camera, illustrating themethod employed for holding the lid in therear end of the camera open.Fig. 8 illustrates a-side view of the supplemental case for holding theplate-holders. Fig. 9 illustrates an end view of the supplemental casefor containing the plate-ho1ders. Fig. 10 illustrates a view of theinterior of the front of the camera, showing the setting mechanism forthe shutter, the shutter being set ready for operation. Fig. llillustrates a like view of the interior of the front of the camera, theshutter 5 having been tripped. Fig. 12 illustrates details ofconstruction of the shuttersetting mechanism.

In the drawings the same reference-letters refer to the same parts inall the figures.

I will first describe my camera as provided with a comparatively longfocus-lens.

A is the camera-box proper. It is made in two parts, B B, hingedtogether at C O.

D D is the handle, made in two parts, one being attached to one part ofthe box and the other to the other part thereof.

D is a catch to hold the parts of the box together when closed. It maybe of any desired construction.

E is the front part of the camera,adapted to be opened to give access tothe lens, shutter, and mechanism therewith connected.

F is the usual side door, through which the plate holders are introducedinto the rear of the camera for exposure.

G, Fig. 3, is a little button placed at the 0pposite side of the camerafrom the door F. It is provided with a short shank, which passes througha hole made in the side of the camera, and is enlarged on its inner end,as at H, so that it cannot drop out.

I isa plate-holder in position ready to take a picture.

J is the focusing mechanism for adjustment S5 of the lens. It forms nopart of this invention, and need not be specifically explained.

K, Figs. 4 and 5, is the usual finder.

L is the light-excluding shield located in front of the lens. It is athin plate of metal, 0 wood, or other suitable material, and is pivotedat M.

N is a slide, which plays through a slot, N, Fig. 2, made in the side ofthe front of the camera E. The slide is provided with a push- 5 button,0, on the outside of the camera. Its inner end is bifurcated, as shown,which bifurcation engages with a pin, 0, on the shield L.

P is a little catch, which is screwed to the inside of the drop E, thefree end whereof projects outwardly away from the frame, and is adaptedto receive the edge of the shieldLbeneath it, so that when closed theshield will be sustained against pressure from without by this catch.

Q, Q Q Q. Fig. 6, are guiding and shield supporting ribs attached to theinner walls of the rear half of the camera. They are so located thatthey will sustain one or more plate-holders (seen at It R) on each sidebetween them and the sides of the camera, but outside of the field ofthe lens. Thus these plate-holders need not be removed from the cameraduring the taking of impressions.

Sis a frame,preferably ofcard board,leather, or equivalent light andthin material,adapted to fit into the vacant space within the camera. Itis intended to contain the plate holders which have to be removed duringthe taking of impressions. It is seen detached and filled withplate-holders it B, &c., in Figs. Sand 9. There is a hole, T, made inits side, (see Fig. 8,) by means of which the plate-holders can beeasily ejected therefrom by the linger.

U, Fig. 6, is the lens.

V, Fig. 7, is a small pivoted supporter for the lid at the rear end ofthe camera. By its use the lid may be sustained higher or lower, asrequired, to properly screen or protect the eyes of the operator, thebetter to see the rear of the plate. This is very useful in takingpictures out of doors.

The operation of the apparatus as thus far described is as follows: Whenstarting totake impressions, the operator, instead of carrying thecamera and also a separate package of plate-holders, as formerly, opensthe camera box and placesthe requisite number of plate holders withinit. Someof them may be placed behind the guiding and supporting ribsQandothers in the frame S, which is dropped into the vacant space betweenthe outside plate holders, It. The whole apparatus is easily carried bythe handle D D. \Vhen desiring to takeimpressions,the camerais againopened, the case S containing the plate-holders is removed, thecamera-box is then again closed, a plate-holder is then inserted in therear of the camera,and the impression is taken -in the usual way.Duringthese operations thelightexcluding shield L is very convenientlyoperated from the exterior of the camera by means of the push-button O,as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 5, and when it is desired to remove theplate-holders and plate from the rear of the camera pressure upon thepushbutton G will push the plate-holder forward over the little ledge Won the opposite side of the camera, which engages with a rabbet on theplateholder, thus avoiding the awkward feature in the use of theseapparatuses of having to press the plate-holder rearwardly against thesprings X, and at the same time draw it outwardly through the door Fwith the same hand.

The foregoing has, as stated, pertained to the use of the comparativelylong focus-lens in connection with the other parts of the apparatus.Referring now to the use of a lens having a shorter focus, as shown atto, Figs. 1,

2, and 4, its construction is well known and does not require specialexplanation. The finder K, the light excluder L, and the other partsshown in Fig. 4 are all well understood, and these parts and the otherrequisite parts may be made as desired. In order to adapt it to use inmy peculiar combination, however, I provide this part of the camera withseparable hinges (seen at b b) or other interchangeable interlockingconnectingdevices, and with half ahaudle (seen at 0,) and I make thehinges C which connect the two parts of the eamera-box A, separable andin such manner that the uniting-pin d, which connects the two leaves ofthe hinges, may be readily witlr drawn, so that the part B, whichcontains the longer focuslens, can be readily separated from the rearpart of the camera by simply withdrawing the pin from the hinges and theframe containing the shorter focus-lens be readily substituted. Aconvenient method of doing this is to extend the uniting-pin of thehinge in the form of an eye or ring, as shown in Fig. 1, by which it canbe readily withdrawn and thetwo leaves of the hinge disengaged one fromthe other.

Figs. 10, 11, and 12 illustrate the mechanism for resetting and trippingthe shutter when taking instantaneous pictures.

a is the shutter. It is pivoted at b,and provided with an aperture, 0,and with notches (Z (7 on its periphery.

e is the lens.

f is a catch pivoted at g. and normally pressed upward by a spring, It.

'i is a sleeve which fits snugly over the lens holding tube, but may beturned thereon. To

it is fastened a plate spring, j, the free end of which projects in asubstantially radial manner fromthe edge of the sleeve 1'. The shutter ahas a pin, a, on its front surface, which, when the shutteris rotated onits axis b',comcs in contact with the springj,aud bends it down wardlyand around the sleeve 2, thus putting it under tension. The spring catchf, engaging with the notches (Z d on the periphery of the shutter, holdsit in such position as may be desired untilreleased. Then thespringjinstantly throws the shutter back again to its normal position,causing the aperture 0 therein to pass quickly across the hole in rearof the lens,thus producing the instantaneous exposure desired.

For a more full description of the parts I refer to the United StatesLetters Patent granted to me, assignor to E. H. T. Anthony & 00.. datedJune7, 1887, No. 364,413.

In order that the shutter a may be set and tripped from the exterior ofthe camera, I provide the following mechanism:

is a curved lever, preferably cut from sheet brass.

Z is a downwardly-extending finger extending from the lever is. v

m is a spring, which is attached at one end to the lower end of thefinger Z and at its other end to the frame of the camera. The lever 7:is extended through a hole in the side ICC IIO

of the frame, and is provided with a pull but ton, a, on its end.

0 is a spring attached to the frame, which bears on a small pin, 1),fastened to the lever k. This spring normally presses the lever kdownwardly, maintaining it in contact with an extension of the pin a,which projects from the rear side of the shutter.

g is an upwardly-extending stud on the upper side of the lever 75,which, when thelever is drawn out nearly to the limit of its movement,engageswith a deflector, r, attached to the frame. whereby the spring 0is aided in pressing the shutter farther around until the notch dengages with the catch f. Thisis desirable when the tension on thespring j is at its greatest, as explained in my said former patent.

s is a curved lever, also preferably cut from sheet-brass. It is pivotedat t to the frame, and curving around the lens-case, as shown, engages,by means of a pin projecting from it, with the end of the spring-catchf. Aspring, a, normally throws this lever t upwardly, so that its weightdoes not rest on the catch, which might tend to releaseitfrom thenotches in the shutter inopportunely.

'0 is arod, which projects through apassageway or hole made in the sideof the frame and slides therein. Its inner end rests against the upperend of the bent lever s.

w, Fig. 12, is astop-pin,which projects from the rear side of theshutter and strikes against a like pin in a plate, 00, thus stoppingtheshutter from going too far around under the action of the spring j.Any other suitable stop or friction device may be used for this purpose.

The operation of these devices is as follows: Upon pulling the button aoutwardly the lever 7;, acting on the rearward extension of the pin a inthe shutter, and aided by the spring 0 and the deflector 1", causes theshutter to rotate on its axis until the springcatchfenters the firstnotch, (1. During this movement the pin a in the shutter, having come inc0ntact with the springj, has pressed it partially around the peripheryof the cap 2' and has put it under slight tension. At this stage in therotation of the shutter the aperture 0 therein will be coincident withthe hole in the shield in rear of the lens and the apparatus will be inproper condition for taking long exposure pictures. To adapt theapparatus to take instantaneous pictures, (which is the special intentof this part of my invention,) the bar is is pulled still farther outinto the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 10. The spring-catch freadily moves out of the notch d, allowing for this further revolutionof the shutter, owing to the rear edge of the notch (I being beveledoff, as shown in Fig.11. It then rests in the second notch, d, and thespringj is put underincreased tension, and the aperture c in the shutteris carried over to the left beyond the center of the lens, and the solidpart of the shutter covers the opening in the rear of the lens,excluding the light. To make the instantaneous exposure,pressure isapplied to the end of the rod 22, which, acting on the curved lever s,discngages the catch f from the notch d,and the springj then instantlythrows the shutter back again to its original position, the picturebeing taken during the transit of the aperture 0 across the center ofthe lens.

It is of course not'essential that the guiding and supporting ribs Qshould be employed. The case S may be used alone, or the case S maybedispensed with and the space which it occupies may be filled with looseholders or other accessories.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. A portable photographiccamera box having a vacant unoccupied space internally adapted toreceive plate-holders used with the camera, the said box being dividedbetween the lens and the exposure-plate, whereby it may be opened andthe said space utilized for the reception of plate-holders or otheraccessories, substantially as set forth.

2. A photographic camera made in two or more parts divided between thelens and the exposed plate, whereby the box may be opened for thereception ofplate-holders,and provided with ribs, grooves, frames, orequivalent de vices for the holding and retention of the plate-holders,said plate-holders being outside the field of view, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

3. A photographic camera the box whereof is made in two or more parts,the division or divisions occurring between the lens and the exposureplate, whereby the interior space of the camera box may be utilized forthe reception of plate-holders or other accessories, and adetachably-attached lens -holding part or frame, whereby a lens of onecharacter may be replaced by alens of a different character,substantially as set forth.

4. The described improvement in cameraboXes, consisting in two or morelens-holding parts or frames, each provided with detachable connectingdevices which engage with counterpart connecting devices on the body ofthe camera, whereby lenses of different foci may be used in connectionwith the same camerabox, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, in a camera,ofapivoted light-excluder, L, and asliding button, 0, outside of the camera which engages with thelight-excluder eccentric to the pivot by means of a spindle passingthrough the side of the camera-box, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

6. The combination, in a camera, ofa pushbutton projecting beyond theside of the camera opposite the door through which the plateholders areintroduced in the rear of the camera, the inner end of the push-buttonengaging with the edge of the plate-holder when in position within thecamera, whereby the plateholder may be started outwardly from the cameraby applying pressure to the puslrbutton, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, in a camera, of a pivoted shutter provided with alight-admitting I der tension by the rotation of the shutter, a 15aperture, a sliding lover or rod operated spring-catch which engageswith notches on from the exterior of the frame and engaged the shutterand holds it against the stress of with the shutter for its rotation, aspring put the spring, and a rod or lever operated from under tension bythe rotation of the shutter, the exterior of the frame for the releaseof the a spring-catch which engages with notches on catch, substantiallyas set forth.

the shutter and holds it against the stress of i Signed at New York, inthe county of New the spring, and means for releasingthe eateh, York andState of New York, this 8th day of substantially as set forth. July, A.D. 1887.

8. The combination, in a camera, of a pivoted shutter provided with alightadnlitting aperture, a sliding lever or rod operated from 1 theexterior of the frame and engaged with the shutter for its rotation, aspring put un- JOHN J. HIGGINS.

\Vitnesses:

J. T. FRYER, R. A. ANTHONY.

